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A perfume is more than some scented liquid in a fancy bottle. It is an emotion, which holds the key to our memories. So if a perfume is your invisible code which can log a permanent entry into the other’s mind, would you want it to common or distinct? The answer to this question determines whether you should switch from designer labels to niche perfumes. It is the quest for a one-of-a-kind soul scent that is quintessentially you and (almost) only yours, that is leading to a visible spike in the popularity of niche fragrances. Traditionally niche fragrances have been the top rung in the perfume segment, accessible only to royalty and the elite, thanks to their exclusive price points. They are artisanal in their approach – think small batches, superior quality natural ingredients and higher concentration of perfume extracts and unusual mix of ingredients!

Did you know that controversial Secretion Magnifiques is a niche fragrance that smells like blood, sweat, sperm and saliva to evoke sensual pleasure? The juice – not the label or the bottle – is the hero here! Unlike a majority of mainstream designer perfumes, which are available in large retail chains and duty-free stores, niche fragrances are limited points of sale. So this year, introduce yourself to niche fragrance houses to find exclusive fragrances that are made for the privileged few!

Editions de Parfum Frédéric Malle

Founded in 2000 by professional perfume evaluator and critic Frederic Malle, this perfume house is a result of generations of perfumery expertise. Malle’s grandfather created Parfums Christian Dior for the fashion brand with the launch of the classic Miss Dior. Malle doesn’t create perfumes himself. Instead he acts as an editor collaborating with world-renowned perfumers to craft artisanal scents without being limited by a particular brand style. Gallery of creators, where recognition is given to the perfumers behind the formulations is one of the USPs of his stores.

Must-try: Portrait of a Lady, Lipstick Rose, Carnal Flower

Nasomatto

The name behind this radical brand is Italian perfumer Alessandro Gualtieri, who has created scents for Versace, Valentino, Helmut Lang, Fendi, Diesel, and more. Gualtieri established his Amsterdam-based brand in 2007 and called it Nasomatto (Italian for ‘crazy nose’). The notes are shrouded in secrecy with none shared except quirky descriptions such as ‘evoke degrees of hysteria’ or ‘enhance all the manifestations of male strength’.

Must Try: Black Afghano, Hindu Grass, Narcotic Venus

Clive Christian Parfums

Clive Christian Parfum’s Clive Christian Imperial Majesty is believed to be the most expensive perfume in the world. Sold in a Baccarat crystal container, with a 5-carat white diamond on its 18-Karat gold collar, each bottle was sold reportedly for US$215,000 making the per-ml price US$430. The brand’s predecessor, the Crown Perfumery Company established in 1872, is the only house to use Queen Victoria’s crown on its bottles.

Must Try: Woody Leather, Green Floral

Le Labo

Once you select your Le Labo scent, your bottle is freshly hand-blended. This boutique fine fragrance company (literally meaning The Lab in French), founded in 2005 in New York, is best known for its irreverent scents. The name of each perfume is composed of its most prominent note, and the number next to it is the number of total notes it’s contains. For instance, Rose 31 has 31 notes and the main one is rose. Not to miss the minimalist almost-apothecary-like bottles. High on sustainability, this eco-friendly, cruelty-free and vegan brand has a refill programme where customers can bring in their empty bottles for a refill.

Must Try: Rose 31, Santal 33, Oud 27

Diptyque

Interior designer Christiane Gautrot, painter Desmond Knox-Leet and Yves Coueslant, a theater director and set designer, opened up Diptyque at 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain mainly to display their own prints and furnishings. But today the brand is best known for its fresh and lively unisex fragrances and artisanal candles. The blends use extremely high quality, rare and precious raw ingredients.

Must Try: Tam Dao, Volutes, Philosykos

Amouroud

Each composition is imbued with voluptuousness of oudh embedded in earthy notes of flowers, roots and herbs. A brainchild of the Perfumer’s Workshop, Amouroud is one of the first luxury brands to offer custom-blend scents at Bloomingdales. The bottles are regal with black glass and golden caps, but never over the top.

Must Try: Midnight rose, Agarwood Noir, Safran Rare

Byredo

The maverick founder, Ben Gorham, half Canadian and half Indian, draws from his mother’s Indian roots, creating scents that fuse the East with West. The fragrances are made of raw materials sourced from around the globe but assembled by hand in Sweden. Not formally trained in perfumery, Ben partners with some of the most prestigious perfumers to bring his unique ideas to completion. For instance he collaborated with the art directors at M/M Paris to create M/MINK, a unique scent that is meant to smell of ink and paper.

Must Try: Gypsy Water

D.S. and Durga

This started as collaboration between musician David Sath Moltz (DS) and an architect, Kavi Moltz in 2018. The founders started out making small handmade batches of aftershaves for friends out of flowers, herbs and spices. Soon after, the pair began to blend oils and plant extracts and was selling to high-end boutiques in New York and California. All of their scents are handmade, unisex and made in-house.